Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

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A different kind of historical fiction: Review of All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

There’s a “famous” quote in Christendom by ancient mystic Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” I love this quote, and it’s where this book by Susie Finkbeiner gets its title and theme, but that’s not what drew me to the book. To be honest, I didn’t make the connection right away. 

I first heard about All Manner of Things because of social media. The author is a friend of a writing friend (and now that we’ve met in person at a writing retreat, I consider her my friend, too!) so I’ve been following her on socials for a few months, and this, her latest book, came up as a review possibility through her publisher’s blogging program. I said yes to a digital review copy without really knowing anything about the book.

Let me fill you in:

Annie is an 18-year-old living with her mom and brothers in Michigan in 1967. Her father, a veteran of the Korean Conflict, left the family years ago and they haven’t heard from him since, and Annie’s older brother Mike, is about to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War. There’s the chance for family reunification as Mike discovers their father’s address.

If that plot sounds simple, it is. But it’s also not. I’ll try to explain.

First, I can’t remember ever reading a historical set in this time period. It feels weird to call it historical because the events happened only a decade before I was born, but I liked reading something set in a time period that wasn’t early 20th century or late 19th century, even though I enjoy stories set in those time periods as well. I’d love to hear from someone who lived through the late 1960s if the story is well-represented. (I trust the author so I suspect that it is.)

Second, it doesn’t feel like a lot happens during the story, but don’t take that to mean it’s boring. Far from it. The war is always looming in the background of the everyday back-at-home events. All Manner of Things is, to me, a beautiful illustration of what it’s like for families with loved ones serving in a combat zone. Life at home doesn’t stop, but it’s always shadowed by thoughts of war. The story doesn’t drag. It moves at a comfortable pace and reflects what I assume were the ordinary goings on of a teenager’s life in the 1960s.

I’m already a fan of the author as a person and now I’m a fan of her writing as well. I can’t wait to read more of her stories!

This one moved me to tears and left me lifted with hope at the same time.

I’d encourage you to give this one a read.

Disclosures: I received a free digital copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion. And this post contains affiliate links, which simply means if you click the link and make a qualifying purchase, I receive a small percentage of the purchase which costs you nothing extra and helps support my writing.

Don’t let the genre keep you away: Review of The Edge of Over There by Shawn Smucker

Some of my favorite books these days are in the YA or middle grade categories, so let me be clear from the start of this review: you don’t have to be a young adult to read this book. And you don’t have to be any certain age to enjoy it.

Shawn Smucker’s The Edge of Over There is the long-awaited sequel to The Day the Angels Fell. It’s hard to talk about one book without talking about the other, and without revealing any spoilers, but I’ll try. (The cover is SO pretty. I love a good book cover!)

This is YA fiction with spiritual themes at its best. Page after page, I couldn’t stop reading. Smucker’s stunning writing drew me right into Abra’s adventure to find the next Tree of Life and the story was over before I knew it. This follow-up is even better than the first book in the series. (Your really need to read them both, so pause in your reading and go order TWO books for your summer reading!)

Smucker explores themes of good-and-evil, life-and-death, and what happens after we die. And it’s definitely an exploration, a creative and hopeful imagining of what’s to come rather than a firm declaration. I can’t say enough about this book! (I read an advance digital copy provided by the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion.)

Here are a couple of my favorite lines that illustrate why I think it’s for young or older adults.

“Can those of us facing the winter of our lives somehow gather the courage to believe spring will come again?”

And:

“Maybe children are the only ones brave and true enough to save the world.”

Anne Bogel, of Modern Mrs. Darcy and What Should I Read Next, has described Smucker’s writing as “Neil Gaiman meets Madeleine L’Engle,” so if you like what those authors have to offer, I’m going to strongly encourage you to check out this series.

Buy it for your kids if you must, but make sure you sneak a read for yourself when they’re finished.